202. What is the Church?
It is the Body of Christ--that is, all people whom the Spirit, by the Means of Grace, has gathered to Christ in faith throughout the world.
John 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."
Note: The Creed in its original words speaks of the Church as "catholic" (universal)--that is, existing throughout all time and throughout the world, including people who confess and believe in Jesus Christ from every background ("people and nation," Revelation 5:9). Another way to say this is to speak of the "Christian Church."
While the word Church, properly speaking, refers to all those who believe in Christ, it is also used in other ways (such as a building, a congregation, a denomination). The word church is used for such things because confessing Christians are found within them.
Eventual commentary
| Previous Question | Next Question |